It goes without saying that diversity and equity in emergency management is important. But it goes beyond just the definition of diversity and equity, Dawn Brantley, Acting Director at MEMA, told Amanda Campen, Senior Manager of the Government & Public Sector practice at CohnReznick. We can’t lose sight of accessibility, Brantley said.

Emergency management is a multi-disciplinary field. This means, no matter your background, the opportunities are there. Erica Heidelberg, acting assistant director of Mitigation Recovery at the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, told Amanda Campen, senior manager of CohnReznick’s Emergency Management practice, about how she experienced this firsthand when she started in emergency management without direct experience but with a transferrable skillset.

For Jessica Jones, public assistance manager at the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, working in the emergency management field allowed her to develop knowledge, strengths, and talents that she didn’t even know she possessed; And the opportunities for women in the field are limitless, she said to Elizabeth Melton, senior manager of the Government and Public Advisory practice at CohnReznick.

Within the emergency management field, the community comes from diverse backgrounds. This not only creates an inclusive community, Katie Waters, public assistance bureau chief at the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for Iowa, said to Brittany Kelly, senior manager of the Government and Public Advisory practice at CohnReznick, but also opportunities for women no matter their background.

For Jennifer Charlton-Faia, section chief at the Texas Division of Emergency Management, helping local communities and governments recover from natural disasters is at the heart of why she loves working in the emergency management field. Charlton-Fala expands on this with Abby Rollins, principal of the Government and Public Advisory practice at CohnReznick, the ever-changing industry, opportunities, and advice.